Coup d'etat in Turkey

[chopinlover01]

So, a large part of the Turkish military forces have tried to take power and overthrow Erdoğan in the name of secular democracy. I haven't seen any casualty numbers yet, but given that there are battles between police and military, it's safe to say that the numbers are going to be high.
What do you all think; is this a worthy cause?
Personally, I'm all for letting Erdoğan be overthrown; he's a malicious, totalitarian dictator who stifles free speech and expression all the time. Secular democracy is an absolute must in the Middle East, and while the cost of lives may be high, it's a necessary price to pay to amend the lives he (Erdoğan) has already taken and will take in the future.
Your thoughts?

[kawai_cs]

As I read Turkey has a long history of coups with its powerful military always seeking remedy to negative developments. The military has actually never aimed to seek overthrowing government only for the sake of gaining and retaining power. This time it seems no different with the military having tried to act towards restoring the democratic order which Erdogan has been constantly undermining. His nepotistic control of media resulted in Turkish newspapers and TV spreading anti-west world and anti-semitic content. It seems to have been very successful with half of the Turkish people supporting the government blindly.
The Turkish government might have been "democratically elected" (not sure about it though cause I haven't followed it when it was happening) but it long has stopped to act in favor of democracy.

[ahinton]

As I read Turkey has a long history of coups with its powerful military always seeking remedy to negative developments. The military has actually never aimed to seek overthrowing government only for the sake of gaining and retaining power. This time it seems no different with the military having tried to act towards restoring the democratic order which Erdogan has been constantly undermining. His nepotistic control of media resulted in Turkish newspapers and TV spreading anti-west world and anti-semitic content. It seems to have been very successful with half of the Turkish people supporting the government blindly.
The Turkish government might have been "democratically elected" (not sure about it though cause I haven't followed it when it was happening) but it long has stopped to act in favor of democracy.

I certainly think that the Erdoğan régime should be overthrown by democratic election (insofar as that be possible in Turkey) rather than by military coup, but whether that will prove possible and when remains to be seen (or not).

At least the country has now descended into even less merit for joining EU, as some have feared - and as some others have been scaremongering with misinformation just as they did in the EU referendum in UK; see
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36352676
and
https://theconversation.com/fact-check-would-the-uk-have-a-veto-on-turkey-joining-the-eu-59844
The irony of the latter is that, should Brexit occur, UK will almost certainly no longer have the power to veto Turkey's application for EU membership!

Best,

Alistair

[mjames]

The EU never wanted Turkey lol, this event makes no difference whatsoever in regards to EU membership.

[ahinton]

The EU never wanted Turkey lol, this event makes no difference whatsoever in regards to EU membership.

I think that it makes a little but not much; it does, however, illustrate the extent of lying and decepton in the EU referendum campaign given the unwarranted scaremongering about Turkey applying for EU membership, not least the inability of UK (and therefore by implication any single other EU member state) to veto such an application.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

You are like a stuck record.

Hopefully some of the imbeciles that wanted Turkey in the EU, might think twice now.

Thap

[ahinton]

You are like a stuck record.

Hopefully some of the imbeciles that wanted Turkey in the EU, might think twice now.Thap

Thap, old chal, I do not know why you write the first sentence here, especially since I agree with your second one wholeheartedly; there was never more than a snowball's chance in Hell of Turkey being accepted as an EU member state and, as you rightly imply, even less chance now. Much as I would like to think of an European Union that extends at least as far as that and farther, it's been a lost cause for a long time for a raft of equally legitimate reasons.

Anyway, a genuinely "stuck record" - i.e. one incapable of moving on a turntable - makes no sound whatsoever, so even your metaphor here seems unfit for purpose!

Best,

Alistair

[chopinlover01]

As we all know, the coup unfortunately has failed.
Erdoğan has arrested and will probably kill something like 6,000 conspirators involved.

[deandeblock]

Europe is about to burn, and we're in the middle of it...

[ahinton]

Europe is about to burn, and we're in the middle of it...

Actually, a large proportion of members here are not "in the middle of it" as they're from outside Europe; many indeed are from US and we all know that "everything's fine in America", don't we?(!)...

Best,

Alistair

[chopinlover01]

we all know that "everything's fine in America", don't we?(!)...

Hah! Hah. Ha...
Oh good God no.

[ahinton]

Hah! Hah. Ha...
Oh good God no.

Indeed - that's just what I meant, of course. But then things aren't good in Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands and other places in Europe right now, what with extreme right wing inputs, so let's not assume that all the ills are in US! We're as good at all that as US is, believe me - and aren't we proving it well!

Best,

Alistair